President Metsola called on the Russian authorities to free all anti-invasion peaceful protesters unjustly detained, at the opening of the plenary session in Strasbourg. As the shelling of Ukraine continues unabated and the number of civilian casualties increases, President Metsola said: “Our outrage grows with every shell that is fired, as does Ukraine’s defiance and […]
Russian military control of Ukraine nuclear plants cause for grave concern, nuclear energy agency warns
Reports that Ukraine’s, and Europe’s, largest nuclear power plant is under the control of Russian forces is a cause for grave concern, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, said on Sunday. In a statement released by the IAEA, Mr. Grossi said he had been informed by Ukrainian authorities that, although regular staff […]
Kyiv is under siege and so is democracy – President Metsola to Ukraine Speaker
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola hosted a meeting with Speakers of the European Union’s National Parliaments and the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk. During the meeting, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced that a structure that brings together the key European Parliament interlocutors with their counterparts from the Rada has been […]
Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Slovak Prime Minister Heger
Thank you very much Prime Minister, dear Eduard, I am here really to thank you and to thank the Slovak people for their outstanding effort to support and welcome the people that are fleeing the war in Ukraine. And I think, in this very dark hour, that it is wonderful to see the unity and […]
Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Romanian President Iohannis
Thank you very much Mr President, And allow me, first of all, to convey my condolences to the families of the officers that died in the helicopter crash last night, a very tragic accident. Mr President, dear Klaus, I am here today to thank you and the warm-hearted Romanian people for welcoming with open arms […]
The Russian attack on Ukraine marks a new era for Europe, MEPs say
Debating Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, MEPs expressed unwavering support for Ukraine and for efforts to bring the country closer to the European community. On Tuesday, the European Parliament held an extraordinary plenary session in Brussels to assess Russia’s military assault on Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Speaker of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (parliament) […]
‘Senseless war’ forces one million to flee Ukraine: UN refugee chief
The “senseless war” in Ukraine has forced one million people to flee the country in just seven days, while countless others have been displaced within its borders, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said on Thursday. “I have worked in refugee emergencies for almost 40 years, and rarely have I seen an exodus as […]
Invasion of Ukraine: MEPs call for tougher response to Russia
In the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, MEPs demand tougher sanctions on Russia and new efforts to grant Ukraine EU candidate status. In a resolution adopted on Tuesday, Parliament condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and demands that the Kremlin end all military activities in the country. It also […]
Ukraine crisis: UN agencies support rising tide of refugees
The number of people fleeing the Russian onslaught in Ukraine surpassed 874,000 as of Wednesday morning New York time, data from the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has revealed. More than half have headed west to Poland, according to a new UNHCR operational data portal that is keeping track of refugee arrivals in neighbouring countries. Others have found shelter […]